Patent · US Expired

Method of extracting and accelerating flat objects

US4877229A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1988
Grant dateOct 31, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H5/14
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of extracting and accelerating flat objects such as postal items which are presented in the outlet position of an unstacking head for use by a machine downstream therefrom, the method making use of a clamp for grasping postal items one-by-one and of various sensors (7) such as photoelectric cells, serving to indicate the presence of a postal item in the outlet position of the unstacking head, or in the field of action of the clamp, or serving to indicate that the clamp is in a waiting position or in an end-of-stroke position, the method being characterized in that it essentially comprises the following stages: PA1 moving the clamp to a waiting position; PA1 when the presence of a postal item is expected in the outlet position from the unstacking head, driving the carriage towards the outlet position of the unstacking head; PA1 when the presence of the postal item is detected within the field of action of the clamp, the clamp is closed and the carriage is driven towards the downstream machine; PA1 as soon as the presence of a postal item is no longer detected in the outlet position of the unstacking head, the clamp is unclamped, thereby releasing the postal item; and PA1 th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.